Check-wire-operated mechanism for planters.



SMITH.

CHECK WIRE OPERATED MECHANISM FOR PLANTERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. I9l5.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

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CHECK WIRE OPERATED MECHANISM FOR PLANTERS. APPLICATION FILED Oct. 15. 1915.

1,212A13. Patented Jan.16,1917.

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ORBIN F. SMITH, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, AFiSIGNGR TO MOLINE PLOW COMPANY, A

. CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

CHECK-WIRE-OPEBATED MEGHANISIE FOR PLANTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 16, 1917.

Original application filed June 2, 1915, Serial No. 31,644. Divided and this application filed October 15, 1915. Serial No. 55,959.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORBIN F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-VVire-Operated Mechanism for Planters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing, the same being a division of original application filed June 2, 1915, Ser. No. 31,644.

This invention relates to the check-wire mechanism employed in connection with seeding machines, more particularly corn planters, to control the discharge of the corn, such mechanism comprising usually a checkshaft square in cross-section and operatively connected with the seed-discharging mechanism, check-forks being secured to the shaft and adapted to be operated periodically by the knots on a check-wire strung across the field, and acting to impart a corresponding rocking motion to the shaft.

In the journaling of the square shaft in the frame bearings, it is usual to apply cylindrical bearing collars to the shaft, and malleable crank arms are employed which are clamped to the shaft, the check-forks being fastened by-malleable clamping devices. This produces an expensive and complicated construction, which it is the aim of my invention to avoid, and with this end in view my invention consists in forming the check-shaft of a length of bar, round in cross-section and bent outwardly between its ends to form integral crank arms, whereby the necessity of clamping separate crank arms thereto is avoided, and the shaft may be journaled directly in the frame bearings without the employment of bearing collars. At its ends the bar is bent around on itself to form eyes, and the check-forks are constructed to be detachably interlocked with the eyes in such manner that when the forks are rocked by the knots on the checkwire, they will impart a corresponding rocking motion to the shaft, and at the same time will be free to swing down relatively to the shaft in dotling the check-wire.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a corn planting machine having my invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of one end of the check-shaft, the check-fork interlocked therewith, and the adjacent parts of the check-wire mechanism, the check-fork being shown in operative position in full lines. Fig. 3' is a similar View showing the check-fork swung down to doif the wire. Fig. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale of one end of the check-shaft and the Cl16Ck-fO1fk, showing the mode of interlocking the latter with theshaft. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the next succeeding stage in the connection of the fork with the shaft. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the final operative interlocked position of the fork with the shaft. Fig. 7 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the check-shaft.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the frame of a corn planting machine supported by ground wheels 2 and giving support to seed-discharging mechanisms 3.

4 represents a rocking check-shaft mounted in bearings 5 on the machine frame and operatively connected with the seed-discharging mechanisms in such manner. familiar to those skilled in the art. that the rocking motion of the shaftwill control the discharge of the seed.

In accordance with my invention. the check shaft is in the form of a length of bar, circular in cross-section and bent outwardly between its ends to form integral crank arms 6, the ends of the bar being bent around so as to form eyes 7 with openings 7 therethrough at their inner sides. for the purpose presently to be described. Checlfforks 8 are so mounted in these eyes t -RL they may be readily interlocked with or detached from the sha t without the employ ment of extraneous fastening means. and so that the vibratory motions imparted to the forks by the check-wire will be transmitted to the shaft to rock the same while permitting the forks to swing clown-wardly relatively to the shaft from an operative position to doif the check-wire, and inasmuch as the connection of the forks with the shaft is the same at its two ends, a description of one connection will sutlice. The shank of the fork is provided with a lateral stud 9 concaved on its periphery both circumferentially and transversely so as to fit the curved inner surface of the eye, the stud being extended loosely within the eye so as to oscillate therein, thereby permitting the fork to swing relatively to the end of the shaft about the axis of the eye. The parts are held from accidental separation by means of two confining lugs 10 and 11 extending in opposite directions radially from the end of the stud, in position to overlie and bear against the side of the eye. These lugs are of a size which will enable them to pass freely, respectively through the eye and through the side opening 7 therein in the interlocking of the fork with the shaft, whereby the fork may be operatively connected with the shaft, and disconnected therefrom, without the use of extraneous fastening means.

In the operation of interlocking the parts, the fork is held at an inclination relatively to the plane of the eye, as shown in Fig. 4, and the lug 10 passed through the eye, whereupon the fork is turned down in line with the shaft to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which action the lug 11 will pass through the side opening in the eye. To complete the connection, the fork is now swung outwardly from the shaft at right angles thereto, as shown in Fig. 6, which action will cause the stud to rotate in the eye, and the two lugs to extend beyond the in ternal surface of the eye, and overhang and bear against the side thereof. With the parts in this position, the fork may be acted on by the check-wire, guided by the usual guiding roller 12 and lug 13 of the checkwire guiding mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2, the fork being held in its upright operative position by the wire; and the vibratory mo tions imparted to the fork, acting through the engagement of the stud and radial lugs on the fork, against the eye, to rock the check-shaft so as to operate the seed-discharging mechanism. When, now, the check-wire is released laterally as is customary at the ends of the row, the fork will be free to swing downwardly as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in F ig. 3, and will thereby doff the wire.

The construction described constitutes a convenient, simple and effective means for the connection of the fork with the checkshaft, without the employment of complicated and expensive, and otherwise objectionable extraneous fastening devices so commonly used to attach the fork to the shaft, while it permits the fork to be readily detached for repairs, or for replacement, or for other purposes.

By forming the check-shaft from a bar or rod round in cross-section, it may be journaled in the frame by mounting the same directly in the frame bearings, thereby avoiding the use of expensive and complicated bearing-sleeves or collars, which it is necessary to employ in effecting the j ournaling of a square shaft. Furthermore, by bending the bar outwardly to form the operating crank arms as integral parts thereof, I avoid the expensive malleable crank arms which it is customary to clamp to square shafts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

'1. In a seeding machine, the combination of seed-discharging mechanism, a rocking check-shaft for operating the same, said check-shaft being in the form of a bar, round in cross-section and bent between its ends to form an integral crank arm adapted to be connected with the seed-discharging mechanism, and said bar having its end bent around to form an eye, and a check-fork detachably interlocked with said eye.

2. In a seeding machine, the combination of seed-discharging mechanism, a rocking check-shaft for operating the same, said shaft being provided at one end with an eye, and a check-fork removably mounted in said eye and rockable therein to dofi' the check-wire.

3. In a seeding machine, the combination of seed-discharging mechanism, a rocking check-shaft for operating the same, provided at one end with a bearing opening, and a check-fork provided with a lateral stud mounted loosely in said bearing opening.

4. In a seeding machine, the combination of seed-discharging mechanism, a rocking check-shaft for operating the same, provided at one end with a bearing opening, and a check-fork provided with a lateral stud mounted loosely in said bearing opening, said stud having a confining lug extending beyond the side of the bearing opening.

5. In a seeding machine, the combination of seed-dischargingmechanism, a rocking check-shaft for operating the same, said check-shaft being provided at one end with a bearing having an opening through one side, and a check-fork provided with a stud mounted loosely in the bearing, said stud being provided with a confining lug adapted to pass through said opening, in interlocking the fork with the shaft.

6. In a seeding machine, the combination of seed-discharging mechanism, a rocking check-shaft for operating the same, provided at one end with a bearing having an opening through one side, and a check-fork provided with a stud mounted loosely in said bearing, said stud being provided with oppositely extending confining lugs adapted to pass respectively through the said bearing and opening, in interlocking the fork with the shaft.

7 In a seeding machine, and in combination with seed-discharging mechanism, a rocking check-shaft for operating the same, said shaft being provided at one end with an eye open at its inner side, and a check-fork having a lateral stud mounted loosely in the eye, said stud being formed with a confining lug adapted to pass through the opening, in interlocking the fork with the shaft.

8. In a seeding machine, the combination of a rocking check-shaft adapted to actuate the seed-discharging mechanism, said shaft consisting of a length of bar having its end bent around to form an open eye, and a check-fork provided With a lateral stud mounted loosely in said eye.

9. In a seeding machine, the combination of a rocking check-shaft adapted to actuate Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the the seed-discharging mechanism, said shaft consisting of a length of bar having its end bent around on itself to form an open eye, and a check-fork provided with a lateral stud mounted loosely in said eye, said stud having a confining lug adapted to pass through the opening, in interlocking the fork With the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

ORBIN F. SMITH.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

